European Trials, this weekend...
Llanberis is Andi Jones' second home, but will he run on Sunday?
It’s not too late if you fancy a GB mountain running vest to add to your wardrobe. This weekend (Sunday 14 June) sees the EMRC uphill only trial race in Llanberis, Snowdonia, as Britain’s top fell runners battle it out for selection.
The Senior Men will run a distance of 6.8 miles with 3563 feet of climb (11km/1086m) and will follow the Bwlch Maesgwm path and the Snowdon Ranger path to finish on Garnedd Ugain summit.
The Senior Ladies and Junior Men will run a distance of 4.5 miles with 3,210 feet of climb (7.2km/978m) and will follow the Llanberis tourist path to finish on Garnedd Ugain (Crib Y Ddysgl) summit. The Junior Ladies will run a distance of 2.46 miles with a climb of 1,414 feet (3.95km/431m) and will follow the Llanberis tourist path and finish at the bottom of Moses hill. Entries will be taken on the day, with registration taking place at the Legacy Royal Victoria Hotel in the village of Llanberis.
However, to get said vest you will need to finish in the first 4 men, women and junior men’s races, and in the first three places in the junior women’s race. All of this is to gain places for the 8th European Mountain Running Champs to be held in Telfes, Austria on the 12th of July.
The European champs route
In a pre-event press release Hansjörg Wirz the European Athletics President says:
Austria has a proud tradition in Mountain Running and so it is fantastic to see the European Mountain Running Championships return to the country, with the spectacular village of Telfes im Stubai hosting the event this year.
In 2009, we are expecting more than 250 athletes from around 25 countries to compete in the championships. Despite such a beautifully pure and healthy Austrian setting, it is sure to be a challenge for the athletes, who will have to use all their skill, stamina and tactical thinking to conquer the rugged terrain.
Expect many of the top GB fell and mountain runners to converge on this one, including a few quick road and XC types – such as last year’s World Trophy trials winner Steve Vernon – who won’t have to contend with unpracticed downhill running skills.
